AHL announces Franchise transactions

Article from www.theahl.com

American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the league’s Board of Governors has unanimously approved the following:

• The transfer of ownership of the Hamilton Bulldogs franchise to Club de Hockey Canadien Inc., owners of the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens.

• The relocation of that franchise from Hamilton, Ont., to St. John’s, N.L., beginning with the 2015-16 season.

• The relocation of the AHL franchise owned by True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd., owners of the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets, from St. John’s, N.L., to Winnipeg, Man., beginning with the 2015-16 season.

Division alignments and schedule formats for the 2015-16 season will be determined by the Board of Governors at a later date.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the top development league for players in all 30 National Hockey League organizations, as well as coaches, officials, executives, trainers and broadcasters throughout the NHL. More than 88 percent of today’s NHL players are graduates of the American Hockey League, and through the years the AHL has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.